Nathaniel was born in September 1920 in Islington, London to Barnett and Elizabeth nee Benjamin and he had an older brother Jonas. In 1939 the family lived at 35 Mildmay Park, Islington where Barnett worked as an omnibus conductor and Jonas was a solicitor’s clerk.

Nathaniel enlisted in 1940 and trained as a wireless operator. He was on Wellington Z8908 which departed from RAF Luqa at 18.15 to attack the docks at Tunis. The aircraft was lost without trace and the crew are commemorated on the Malta Memorial.

A/G, Andrew Michael Coakley, 778785
Pilot, Randall Tyrone Cottrell, 39993, RNZAF
A/G, Samuel Jefferies, R/90773, RCAF
2nd Pilot, Cyril Neville Stansbury, 1178924
Nav, Flt Sgt Eric Claude Turner, 400945
W/Op, Sgt Nathaniel Van Gelder, 1377653